Architecture

Byzantine architecture: forms, development, and legacy Byzantine architecture Architectural tradition of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire centered on centralized plans, domes, mosaics and complex structural solutions that influenced medieval and later ar…

Cabinet (furniture): types, construction, uses and care Cabinet (furniture) An overview of cabinets — enclosed furniture for storage — covering materials, parts, historical use, types (kitchen, display, filing), construction methods, and safety and mainten…

Caesars Superdome — New Orleans domed stadium Caesars Superdome Multiuse domed stadium in New Orleans, home of the New Orleans Saints; notable for large-capacity events, major renovations, and its role during Hurricane Katrina and in hosting na…

Caledonian Stadium — Inverness Caledonian Thistle's home ground Caledonian Stadium Football stadium in Inverness, Scotland; home and owner of Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C., hosting domestic matches, community events and regional fixtures in the Scottish Highl…

Capitol building: purpose, design, history and civic role Capitol building A capitol building houses a legislature and often executive offices; this article explains its functions, common architectural features, history, public uses, and how it differs fr…

Carbide & Carbon Building — Chicago Art Deco landmark Carbide & Carbon Building 1929 Art Deco skyscraper at 230 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Designed by Burnham Brothers for Union Carbide, 37 floors, gold‑capped top, designated a Chicago Landmark in 1996.

Carnegie Hall — historic concert venue in New York Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall is a renowned concert hall in New York City, founded with funds from Andrew Carnegie in 1891. It contains three performance spaces and is noted for acoustics, program…

Carnegie Hall Tower A 60‑story skyscraper adjacent to Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, completed in 1991; known for its postmodern design, mixed-use program and role supporting the historic concert hall.

Carpenter: roles, materials, tools, history, and specializations Carpenter A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who shapes and assembles wood for structures, furniture, cabinets and other objects. This article describes materials, tools, specializations,…

Carrickfergus Castle A medieval Norman fortress on the shore of Belfast Lough in County Antrim, Carrickfergus Castle is one of Ireland’s best-preserved Norman strongholds and a long-serving military an…

Castle: Medieval Fortified Residences and Their Architecture Castle Castles are fortified residences built from the early Middle Ages for defense, administration, and status. This article explains their design, evolution, regional varieties, milita…

Catacomb: underground burial galleries and their history Catacomb An underground gallery used for burial, ritual, and remembrance. Catacombs originated in antiquity and appear in several cultures; they are important for archaeology, art history,…

Catherine Palace — the Russian imperial residence at Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) Catherine Palace Baroque palace near Saint Petersburg, built for the Russian imperial family; known for its gilded facade, rich interiors and the Amber Room. Heavily damaged in WWII and later the f…

CBS Building (Black Rock) — CBS headquarters in Midtown Manhattan CBS Building Midcentury modernist office tower in Midtown Manhattan designed by Eero Saarinen, known as the 'Black Rock' and long home to the CBS corporate and production operations.

Ceiling (interior surface) Ceiling An interior ceiling is the overhead surface that finishes the top of a room. This article explains types, materials, history, functions, and notable decorative examples.

César Pelli Argentine-American architect César Pelli (1926–2019) designed landmark skyscrapers and urban complexes including the Petronas Towers and the World Financial Center. He led Pelli Cl…

Chair — forms, parts, history, and common uses Chair A chair is a raised seat for one person. This article explains common parts, materials, types, historical development, and practical distinctions like stools, benches and sofas.

Chancel (church architecture and liturgical space) Chancel The chancel is the area of a church around the altar reserved for clergy and choir. This article explains its form, history, liturgical role, variations and distinctions from scree…

Changdeokgung — Joseon palace, Huwon (Secret Garden), and World Heritage site Changdeokgung Changdeokgung is a principal Joseon-era palace in Seoul, celebrated for its harmonious architecture, integrated landscape design and the Huwon (Secret Garden). It is preserved as a…

Chapter house: medieval meeting rooms of cathedrals and monasteries Chapter house A chapter house is a dedicated meeting room, typically attached to a cathedral or monastery, used by clergy or monastic communities for governance, readings, record-keeping and cer…

Charles Correa: Architect, Urban Planner and Advocate for Humane Cities Charles Correa Overview of Charles Correa (1930–2015), his architectural approach, major contributions to post‑Independence Indian architecture, awards, and lasting influence on urban design and…

Charles Jencks: architect theorist, landscape designer and cultural critic Charles Jencks Profile of Charles Jencks (1939–2019): his role in postmodern theory, landscape works like the Garden of Cosmic Speculation and Crawick Multiverse, his books and founding role in M…

Chase Tower Chase Tower is the name given to several office skyscrapers and major bank buildings primarily occupied or branded by JPMorgan Chase. The name appears on regional headquarters, dow…

Chase Tower (Chicago) Chase Tower is a 60-story, 259 m (850 ft) office skyscraper in Chicago's Loop, completed in 1969. It has long served as a major commercial and banking office and is a notable eleme…

Château: French manor houses, country estates and their history Château A château is a French term for a manor house, country residence, or sometimes a castle; this article explains forms, history, architecture, uses and notable examples in France and…

Chicago Board of Trade Building Art Deco skyscraper in Chicago, 604 ft tall with 44 floors, home of the historic Chicago Board of Trade and crowned by a statue of Ceres; a landmark of the city’s financial and arc…

Chicago Place — mixed‑use building on North Michigan Avenue Chicago Place Chicago Place is a mixed‑use high‑rise on the 700 block of North Michigan Avenue, combining street‑level retail anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue with an upper residential tower of con…

Chicago Spire — unbuilt 2,000 ft tower in Chicago Chicago Spire Unfinished twisting skyscraper designed by Santiago Calatrava. Planned as an approximately 2,000 ft, ~150‑story residential tower; construction stopped in 2008 and the site was lat…

Chicago Temple Building A 1924 skyscraper in downtown Chicago that houses the First United Methodist Church, combining worship space and offices in a 23-floor, 173 m structure noted for its tower and urba…

Chicago Title & Trust Building — overview, design, history and significance Chicago Title & Trust Building Encyclopedic overview of the Chicago Title & Trust Building: its size, architectural character, history since 1992, primary uses, role in Chicago’s downtown and its place among the…

Chifley Tower — prominent commercial skyscraper in Sydney Chifley Tower Chifley Tower is a major office skyscraper in Sydney's central business district, noted for its crown, public forecourt and role in late-20th-century redevelopment of the city cent…

Chimney: structure, function, history and environmental role Chimney A chimney vents hot gases or smoke from hearths, stoves and boilers. This article explains design, components, history, uses, safety and how chimney height and maintenance affect p…

Chinese architecture: history, forms, and cultural influence Chinese architecture Survey of traditional and historic Chinese architecture: key features, materials, building types, regional variation, notable examples, and ongoing conservation and influence in Ea…

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford The cathedral of the Diocese of Oxford and the college chapel of Christ Church, Oxford. Noted for its medieval fabric, dual academic and diocesan role, long choral tradition and hi…

Chrysler Building — New York City Art Deco skyscraper Chrysler Building Art Deco skyscraper in Manhattan completed in 1930, noted for its stainless-steel crown, automobile-inspired ornament, brief status as world's tallest building, and status as an ar…

Church (building) A church is a building designed for Christian worship and related community functions; its forms, parts, and roles have evolved across history and denominations.

Cinderella Castle The fairy-tale castle that serves as the visual centerpiece and symbol of Disney's Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland, notable for its design, shows, guest spaces and role in park…

Citadel (fortress): purpose, design, history and examples Citadel A citadel is a fortified stronghold built to protect a settlement or serve strategic, administrative, or symbolic roles; this article explains its features, history, and common use…

CITIC Plaza — major skyscraper in Guangzhou CITIC Plaza CITIC Plaza is a 391 m, 80-floor mixed-use skyscraper in Guangzhou's Tianhe district, completed in 1997. It is a key landmark in the city's modern skyline and commercial core.

Citigroup Center (601 Lexington Avenue) — New York City skyscraper Citigroup Center A major Manhattan office tower completed in 1977, noted for its sloped roof, mid‑block stilts, engineering retrofit and role as a skyline landmark near Midtown East.

Citigroup Center (Chicago) A 42‑story late‑modernist office tower at 500 West Madison in Chicago, designed by Murphy/Jahn and completed in 1987; notable for its public atrium and a high‑profile 2006 shooting…

City gate A city gate is a controlled entrance through a town's defensive wall or boundary, combining military, administrative and ceremonial functions from antiquity into modern heritage co…

City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia) City of Arts and Sciences A contemporary cultural and architectural complex in Valencia, Spain, featuring museums, an aquarium, performance venues and landscaped public spaces designed around futuristic for…

CitySpire Center CitySpire Center is a 248 m (814 ft), 75‑story mixed‑use skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, completed in 1989. Known for its crowned top and postmodern profile, it remains a notable…

Civic Opera Building, Chicago Civic Opera Building A 45-story 1929 mixed-use skyscraper at 20 North Wacker Drive housing a major Art Deco opera house and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Civic Opera House (Chicago) Historic opera house in Chicago’s Civic Opera Building (20 North Wacker Drive). Opened in 1929 with an Art Deco interior, it seats 3,563 and is the permanent home of the Lyric Oper…

Cladding: materials, functions, types, and safety considerations Cladding Cladding is an outer layer applied to buildings or objects to protect, insulate, and decorate. This article explains common materials, system types, performance issues, installatio…

Client–server architecture Client-server Overview of the client–server software architecture: roles, behavior, protocols, common uses, variants and practical considerations for design and deployment.